THE RUBINOOS
Crimes Against Music (Zip Records)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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The Rubinoos were a new-wave-ish band from the '70s that scored a minor hit with "I Think We're Alone Now," a fairly infectious powerpop remake of the Tommy James and the Shondells song. Their recorded output is up and down with me. Some of their stuff, like "Rock and Roll Is Dead" are fantastic, other tunes are too syrupy sweet for me. On this, a new release from the band, they tackle a variety of covers with mixed results. Kicking off the CD with a Eurythmics cover ("Thorn In My Side") doesn't bode too well, though it is better than the original. The American Breed's "Bend Me, Shape Me" features neat sitar, but their version of Elvis Costello's "Punk It Up" is lethargic. Del Shannon's "Hats Off The Larry" is pretty good, but Polly Brown's "Up In A Puff Of Smoke" is a little too "oldies band" sounding for its own good. They do great on Sweet's "Little Willy" and the Flamin' Groovies' "Shake Some Action," both with a heavier guitar sound overall. Utopia's "There Goes My Inspiration" is actually better than the original, ditto for the Looking Glasses '70s soft rock hit "Brandy," which in the Rubinoos hands becomes a pretty rockin' song, speeded up and turned into a punky pop tune!! Lou Christies' "If My Car Could Talk" suffers from the "oldies band playing the hits of the '60s" syndrome again. Not terrible mind you, just okay. Next, they tackle the Yardbirds' "Evil Hearted You." Now, I'm a huge Yardbirds fan, but I gotta say, they do a great job on this! Co-lead vocals, with the main being sung in a low register for a really ominous effect, a bizarre theremin-like instrument used and great guitar playing make this one really stand out. "Heroes & Villains" is an almost acapella version of the Beach Boys song and shows off their vocal prowess to good effect. Lastly, they do a fab version of "Bubblegum Music," a song originally by Rock 'n' Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Card Company of Philadelphia 1914, who of course weren't really a band but simply part of the whole Kassenatz-Katz stable of bubblegum stars like the Ohio Express and 1910 Fruitgum Company. Overall, this is quite a fun, happy disc worth checking out.

© 2003 - Alan Wright